[Effects of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Thirty-one patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). After three months, the average apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 352.2 +/- 138.2 (mean +/- SD) to 182.2 +/- 140.4 episodes/hr and the duration of oxygen desaturation (less than 85%) decreased from 38.4 +/- 48.6 to 13.2 +/- 25.8 minutes. Although only 51.6% patients had a reduction of AHI greater than 50%, a questionnaire study revealed that most patients had subjective improvement of clinical symptoms and only mild complications were noted. We tried to find out the correlation between the efficacy of UPPP and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and obese but failed. It is concluded that UPPP is the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in selective patients.